Method of forming grab irons



Feb. 26, 1946.

W. F. CREMEAN METHOD OF FORMING GRAB IRONS Filed June 17, 1943 2 Sheqts-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1946. w. F. CREMEAN 2,395,612

METHOD OF FORMING GRAB IRONS Filed June 1'7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Q. Q I I w iii} W QM} i l 1 w? t E? iii:

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Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF FORMING GRAB IRONS William F. Cremean, Toledo, Ohio Application June 17, 1943, Serial No. 491,211

3 Claims. (01. 29-148) My invention relates to a method of forming grab irons, handholds or other similar members having flattened feet portions by which they may be attached to a suitable support.

The prevailing method of forming a grab iron requires cutting a straight bar or rod to a required length, upsetting material at each end of the bar, forging feet portions from the upset material and then punching a hole in each foot portion and bending the feet to make the required design of grab iron.

The principal object of this invention is to eliminate one of the two upsetting or forging operations in the method now in general use so as to reduce the total number of operations required to form a grab iron and otherwise simplify the process. This in brief is accomplished by forming the rod or bar with curved end portions of such shape that by applying force to them in a direction longitudinally of the rod they may be upset in a, single operation into flattened portions having the contour of the feet of the grab iron.

According'to my improved method a bar or rod which is adapted to be formed with a succession of bowed portions is moved a predetermined distance in the direction of'its length after the formation of each bowed portion, and as each new bowed portion is formed a previously formed bowed portion is simultaneously cut at its' center so that each severed section of the rod is provided with curved end portions. Each curved end portion of each severed section of the rod is then placed within a die provided with a cavity which in cross section corresponds to the contour of the feet with which the grab iron is to be formed and force is then applied to each end of the rod in a direction longitudinally of the axis thereof to upset the curved end portion and form the rod with a flattened portion arranged substantially normal with the axis of the rod having the desired contour. The ends of the rod are restrained from moving laterally of the die cavity during the upsetting of the curved portions so that the metal of those portions will spread substantially uniformly within the cavity, and as the upsetting operation is being concluded an indentation is formed in the flattened portions which serves to center means which is subsequently employed for punching holes therein. Thereafter the rod is bent to dispose the flattened portions in the desired relation with respect thereto.

The various steps of the improved method are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein v Figure 1 shows a pair of die members in closed position to form a bowed portion in a rod or bar and also shows a pair of shear blades cutting a 1 bowed portion which has been previously formed in the rod. 4

Figure 2 is a side elevational .view of a severed section of the rod.

Figure 3 is a plan View showing the curved ends of a severed section of the rod within dies in which they are adapted to be upset, a part of one-half of the right hand die being removed and the position which the cooperating piston occupies when in closed position being indicated in dotted linesl Figure 4 is a side view of the structure illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of the rod as it appears after the flattened end portions have been formed thereon by the dies and pistons as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of the rod shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view of one design of a completed grab iron which may be made by suitably bending the rod shown in Figure 5.

Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on lines 88 and 9-9, respectively, of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l indicates the rod or bar which is adapted to be formed with a succession of bowed portions 2 by a pair of cooperating die members 3. After being bent by the dies 3 to form a bowed portion 2, the rod is moved in the direction of its length to present the bowed portion to a pair of shearing blades 4 and 5, respectively, the former being movable and the latter being stationary. A suitable support 6 having a semi-circular groove in its upper face is provided adjacent the stationary blade 5 for supporting the rod while it is being cut, the support being of such shape in a direction longitudinally of the rod toconform to a part of the bowed portion.

The movable shearing blade 4 is preferably adapted to move downwardly simultaneously upon each operation of the die members 3 so that eachtime a new bowed portion is formed in the rod a previously formed bowed portion will be cut at its center. The distance the rod is moved forwardly after each bending and cutting operation may be advantageously limited by an adjustable stop afiording'an abutment against which the end of the rod is'adapted to be brought into engagement.

The bowed portions with which the rod is formed by the dies 3 are of such shape that when they are cut at their mid points by the shearing blades each end of each severed section of the rod will have an identical reverse curve portion 8 and, considering the contour of the flattened portion into which these reverse curve portions are to be forged, the curvature of each of those portions is such that the metal of which they are formed willrhave'to be displaced laterally the least possibledistancea The end portions of each severed section of the rod are placed within dies 9 each of which is preferably formed in two equal parts. Each of the dies has a cavity In in which theadjacent reverse curve portion of the rod is arranged. In cross section this cavity is of a shape corresponding to the contour of the feet with which the grab iron is to be formed. 7

Movable within the cavity of each die in the directioniof the axis-.ofrthe rod for upsetting the reverse curve portion thereof disposed within the cavi-iwzisapiston H: of the same. cross sectional shape: as; the cavity: While; one reverse: curve portion may: be, upset. and then the other; it;ispreferred that? they be: upset simultaneously. by having the pistons ll move toward each'pother: at: the same :instant. I i

The front face of each pistomi's formed with a. forwardly. extending; conical projection It which is; arrangedto: engage. the adjacentxend; of the fiattenedfeet' for attachin'git'to-a support, which rod inadvance' of the pistonrso. as toupreventzthei end'from: curling: over. orv bending. laterally; By: thus: restraining the ends ofi the .rod. from; mov ingctransversely: of; the: axisthereofz' aisxthe reverse curve portions are being upset by inward movemerit;v of: the; pistons, the. metallof: each reverse curve portion is caused to spread uniformly-in: opposite". directionse In addition toaits function ofi-preventing. lateral movement of the...en-d's off. the rod; during. upsettinggofthe reverse curveportions thereof, the conical portions [2 also'function tocformindentations: l3 in;the;flattened: foot portions l4 into which the reverse curve portions are: forged:v Theseindentations. serve. aszmeans foneantering a punch: or the like. which is-subsequently employed for: producing? a: hole". for." receiving: a: rivet: on other: securing: means in: the flattened; foot portionsg. Each .rivet hole will thus. beeproperl'y centeredzwithin; the foottiportiomwith a uniform; amounti of material surrounding; the helez.

The flattened: end portions having: the: desired contour; of the" feet: of thei grab" iron which are thus formedfin a1 single' upsetting operation ofi the reverse curve portion: are. disposed? substantially: perpendicular-rite: thev axis of: the. rod. and it .is; V of; course,. necessaryto: then bend the: rod? any. preferred; manner so as to; dispose the: flattened portions: in; the desiredrelation: with: respect: to." thenrod: to produce theparticular design: of? grab: iroin required; One: of the standard? for-ms= of irons. or handholds which: may bev easily: produced by bending: the: rod: shown in Figure 5; just.- inwardly. of the flattened; feet: portions; is illustrated; in. Eigurez'T. of: the drawings.

From: the foregoing; it will be: perceived that; amethodz for forming grab irons has beende-. vis'edi which: entails a minimum number of operations and'i requires: but onewipsettingsoperationz It i's; of? course; tobe; understood. that-the method may bepracticed: by other means thanithat specifically illustrated and described without depart ing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

1. The method of forming a grab iron having flattened feet for attaching it to a support, which consists in forming a rod with bowed portions at predetermined points intermediate its ends, shearing said rod at the center of said bowed portions-whereby: each severe-d1 section of the rod has reverselycurved end. portions upsetting the curved end portions of a severed section of the rod by applying force to the ends thereof in opposite directions parallel with the longitudinal axis-of saidsectionto form flattened portions disposed substantially normal to said axis having the contour of the feet of the grab iron, and restraining theends ofsaid rod from moving transversely of the axis thereof during the upsetting of said curved portions whereby. the metal of said portions is spread uniformly in opposite" direc-' tions; said rod being adapted to be thereafterbent to dispose said flattened portions in thedesired relation with-respect thereto:

22 The metliodof forming-a grab' iron having consistsin successivelybendlngintermediate-por tions: of a rodto" provide it-- with spacedbowed portions; moving said: rod a predetermined dis tance in the direction of its length after each bending operation, cuttingsaid-rod at the center of each bowed portion wherebythe severed sections. of the rod respectively have curved and portions; upsetting" the curvedend portions'of asevered section of' the-red by-applying force to the endsthereof ina direction parallel'with the longitudinalaxis of said section to form-fiattened portions arranged substantially normal to said. axis having the-contourof the feet ofthe-erabi iron, and restraining the" ends of saidrod from" moving transversely-of the axis thereofdurin'g the upsetting: ofsaid curved portions whereby the metal of said portions is spread uniformlyirr 0p'- posite. directions"; said" rod. being adapted to be thereafter bent? to dispo'se said fl'attene'd port-ionsin-the des-ire'd relationz'with respect thereto.

3;. The? method. of; forming a grabirorr having I flattened feetiforrattachihgtit=1to acsupporfiwhich consists; in. forming a rod with: a succession of bowed portions, moving1saidrod' aapredetermine'd? distance in. a. direction. of. its length; after: each: bowed: portion is formed; cutting a; previously; formed; bowed portion at its center: simultan'es ouslywith the formation ofeach: new bowed-'2 portionwhereby each-severed section-oi therodi.

isrespectivel rprovided with reversely, curved-end. portions, upsetting the curved. end. portions: of.- a. severed; section of themed by: applying. forcetothe. ends. thereof .in. opposite directions parallel with the. longitudinal? axis .of. said. severed. section.

to. form flattened. portions .arrangedrsnbstantially normal to. said axis having the contour. of the. feet; ofthe grab. iron,..and;restrainihg the ends. of'said severed se'ctionfrom moving transversely, of' the aixsthereof during the upsetting, ofisaidj curved portionswhereby the" metal of said portions' is spread uniformly in opposite directions; said severed section being" adapted to be: there'- after bent todispose the. flattened" portions thereof in the desired relation withrespect thereto:

CREMEAsN. 

